Aerostats with linear/non-linear gas filled connecting ladder structures

ABSTRACT

A gas-inflatable character aerostat or balloon with at least one gas-inflatable appendage comprising a linear and non-linear gas-inflatable connecting ladder structure connecting the gas-inflatable appendage to the gas-inflatable aerostat to permit free movement of the appendage in relation to the aerostat in three dimensions. The ladder structure includes two sheets of elongate polymeric material fused together with the ladder structure to be inflated with gas between the sheets. The ladder structure includes an elongate gas-inflatable main channel and gas-inflatable lateral extensions extending from and in flow communication with the main channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to character-shaped balloons, and more particularly to character-shaped balloons having appendages that are also inflatable to more naturally represent the actual character that the balloon is intended to imitate.

Non-latex balloons, often referred to as film balloons, have been popular for many years as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,077,588; or 290,763 and 4,417,646 which are incorporated herein by reference. Film balloons may also be referred to as metalized balloons. Typically, one or more sheets of the film is printed with a colorful decoration, such as a character, design, message or combination thereof. More recently, toy products have developed which include a combination of balloons with appendage structures as shown on U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,338,243; 4,778,431 and 5,108,339.

Films constructed of multiple layers are known in the art as a viable strategy to combine the characteristics of each film layer into an overall film construction. Film materials may include latex, metalized polymeric materials, metalized polyamides (Nylon 6), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which may include a sealant layer, a film layer and a metal barrier layer often with a primer.

FIG. 1 is a prior art illustration of a flower balloon 10 made of two film layers die cut and fused together about their periphery. The flower balloon 10 has a flower face 12, petal arms/hands 14 and a stem with roots or feet like appendages 18. Valve 20 is utilized to inflate the flower balloon 10. Once the flower balloon is properly inflated through valve 20, the balloon structure is generally quite rigid in relation to the body parts and appendages as they are connected by gas filled connecting structures. Helium is often used in filling character balloons.

FIG. 2 shows another prior art Valentine heart character balloon 24 which includes a heart face and body 26. Gas filled arms 28 rigidly extend from the body 26 as appendages. In this example, dangling flat legs 30 are utilized while valve 32 inflates the body 26 and arms 28.

FIG. 3 shows yet another prior character balloon in the form of a bird balloon 36 having a body 38 with its own valve 40 and dangling accordion-style legs 42 which suitably may be made of paper or plastic. Weighted feet 44 hold the bird balloon 36 close to the ground as to appear natural. A flexible accordion-style neck 46 suitably connects a head 48 to the body 38 and the head 48 has its own valve 50 for inflating the head 48.

FIG. 4 shows a more complex prior art character balloon in the shape of a rabbit balloon 54 having dangling legs 56 (excluding inflated serpentine tube 72) connected to inflatable weighted feet 58, each foot having its own valve 60. The body 62 has depending arms 64 that are inflated to be rigid with body 62 through valve 66. Head 68 is connected to body 62 and suitably has its own valve 70. This character balloon structure requires four valves 60, 66 and 70 to inflate the rabbit balloon 54.

The inset circle is an illustration of applicants' attempt to put a serpentine gas inflatable tube structure 72 into legs 56 as to partially inflate the legs. This effort should not be considered prior art. The serpentine tube 72 has many corners 74 that are subject to heat and damage as the rabbit balloon 54 is inflated with helium which heats up and burns the film at corners 74 creating gas leaks which are extremely undesirable.

There is a need for character balloons with one or more appendages that are not rigidly connected as the flower balloon 10 above and similarly not connected by dangling loose, accordion style, non-supporting connecting portions such as legs 42 and neck 46 similarly shown above. Such character balloon structures should have their appendages connected to the main body in a manor such that the character balloons act and respond to air currents and movement in a more life-like manor suitable to their particular characters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gas-inflatable character aerostat or balloon with at least one gas-inflatable appendage comprising a linear and non-linear gas-inflatable connecting ladder structure connecting the gas-inflatable appendage to the gas-inflatable aerostat to permit free movement of the appendage in relation to the aerostat in three dimensions. The ladder structure includes two sheets of elongate polymeric material fused together with the ladder structure to be inflated with gas between the sheets. The ladder structure includes an elongate gas-inflatable main channel and gas-inflatable lateral extensions extending from and in flow communication with the main channel.

The principal object and advantage of the present invention is that a character balloon with the ladder structure of the present invention has a longer life than previous character balloons with appendages in that the present invention is not deleteriously subject to incoming helium which otherwise may heat and burn corners within the character balloon thereby causing minute leaks.

Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the appendage ladder structure gives strength and support to the character balloon while allowing linear and non-linear motion of the character balloon body in relation to the appendages in a life-like manner through three axis of motions.

Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the character balloon can be inflated with a single valve versus multiple valves which reduces the cost of the character balloon and minimizes gas leaks through what otherwise may be multiple valves.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the character balloon with the ladder structure uses less helium versus prior known balloons that have the appendages rigidly filled with higher volumes of helium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art front elevational view of a flower balloon.

FIG. 2 is a prior art front elevational view of a Valentine heart character balloon with rigid arms and dangling legs.

FIG. 3 is a prior art front elevational view of a bird balloon with inflated body and head with dangling legs and a flexible accordion style neck with at least two valves.

FIG. 4 is a prior art front elevational view of a rabbit balloon with dangling legs (excluding serpentine tube 72) and weighted feet supporting inflated arms and head to be inflated with multiple valves.

FIG. 5 is a dragon character balloon illustrating an aerostat with linear and non-linear gas filled connecting ladder structures or appendages of the present invention.

FIGS. 6 through 9 illustrate various inflated ladder structures for connecting the main body portions of a character balloon to appendages in a more life-like manner.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a perspective sectional view of a connecting ladder structure of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a Valentine heart character balloon with connecting ladder structures of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a snake balloon with a connecting ladder structure of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of a Valentine heart character balloon containing connecting ladder structures of the present invention along with intermediate gas reservoirs in the connecting structures.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION

Aerostats 78 with linear and non-linear gas filled connecting ladder structures connected to appendages in a more life-like acting manner may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 14 through 16. The dragon balloon 78, 80 has two sheets of die cut and heat sealed films forming peripheral seals 82 as well as inflated ladder 88 with seals 82 thereabout. The dragon balloon 80 has a large head 84 with a depending neck 86 comprised of an inflated ladder, lattice, spine or connecting branch structure 88. The ladder structure 88 includes a main channel 90 and opposing lateral extensions 92 in flow communication for inflation with the main channel 90. Neck 86 connects to body 94 which illustratively has rigidly inflated arms with claws 96. A single valve 98 inflates the body 94, neck 86 and large head 84 as well as the tail 100 of the dragon balloon 80. Similarly, the ladder structure 88 extends through a portion of tail 100 about which it is sealed 102 to connect to inflated tail end 106. The tail end 106 and tail 100 are also inflated through valve 98. Intermediate the inflated ladder structure 88 is a gas-inflatable chamber, holding tank, baffle or reservoir which assists in inflating the tail and minimizes heat generation by the inflow of helium.

By this arrangement, the head 86, body 94 and tail inflated end 106 are semi-rigid or flexibly connected and permit linear and non-linear movement along arrows A, B and C to give the dragon balloon 80 a more life-like motion as it moves within air currents or is otherwise bumped or pulled. Uniquely, this dragon balloon 80 is inflated with a single valve 98 which minimizes the possibility of a short life otherwise caused by multiple valve leakages.

FIGS. 6 through 9 attempt to illustrate variations in the ladder structures. These figures include a foot 110 and a leg 112 with various inflated ladder structures 114 which give a variety of movement to the character balloon in a more rigid or more flexible fashion as desired. The inflated ladder structures include a main channel 116 and lateral extensions or rungs 118 and are in flow communication with the main channel 116 while the inflated ladder is sealed there around at 120 between the two films.

FIGS. 10 through 13 illustrate more detail to the connecting ladder structures 114 which are comprised of two sheets D and E die cut and heat sealed together. The main channel 114 is sealed and is gas-inflatable while lateral extensions 118 are in flow communication with the main channel and may similarly be gas-inflatable with the peripheral seals 120 about the connecting ladder structures 114.

FIG. 14 is a Valentine heart character balloon 78, 124 of the present invention. The heart face and body 126 has extending arms or appendages 128 which terminate at hands. Within arms 128 are the connecting ladder structures 130 of the present invention. Legs 132 extend from the body 126 and similarly have the connecting ladder structures 134 of the present invention connecting the body 126 to feet 136 which may be weighted 138. This character balloon has its appendages supported by the connecting ladder structures 132 which make them flexible or semi-rigid thereby permitting the arms 128 and legs 132 and feet 136 to move in a linear and non-linear fashion along arrows A, B and C. This character balloon 124 similarly only utilizes a single valve 140 for inflation.

FIG. 15 is a snake character balloon 78, 142 of the present invention. The snake balloon 142 has a snake head 144 and a serpentine shaped body 146 which includes the connecting ladder structure 148 of the present invention. Tail 150 has a singular valve 152. This snake balloon 142 has a more life-like flexible movement in air currents or as it is bumped or moved along arrows A, B and C.

FIG. 16 is a Valentine heart character balloon 78, 156 of the present invention which has a heart face and body 158 as shown in FIG. 14. Arms 158 support the connecting ladder structures 166 to hands while legs 162 similarly have the connecting ladder structures 164 with the addition of intermediate round or box-like knees 166, 168 which are gas chambers, tanks, baffles, or reservoirs, which assist in the inflation of the overall balloon without generation of heat and also add additional points of flexation or joints for more life-like movement of the character balloon 156. Feet 170 are also inflated and weighted at 172. Valve 144 inflates the entire Valentine heart character balloon 156 without the need for additional valves.

The present invention should be understood by the following appended claims while the above illustrated embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be limiting when interpreting the following claims. 

1. A linear and non-linear moving gas-inflatable connecting ladder structure for connecting a gas-inflatable appendage to an aerostat to permit movement of the appendage in relation to the aerostat in three dimensions, the ladder structure comprising two sheets of elongate polymeric material fused together with the ladder structure to be inflated with gas between the sheets.
 2. The ladder structure of claim 1, wherein the ladder structure further comprises: a) an elongate gas-inflatable main channel; and b) gas inflatable lateral extensions in flow communication with the main channel.
 3. The ladder structure of claim 1, further comprising a gas-inflatable reservoir intermediate and in flow communication with the main channel.
 4. The ladder structure of claim 1, wherein the lateral extensions are opposing and on both sides of the main channel.
 5. The ladder structure of claim 1, wherein the ladder structure is in gas flow communication with the aerostat and inflatable appendage.
 6. The ladder structure of claim 1, further comprising a singular valve for inflating the aerostat, ladder structure and appendage.
 7. A linear and non-linear moving gas-inflatable connecting ladder structure for connecting a gas-inflatable appendage to a gas-inflatable aerostat to permit movement of the appendage in relation to the aerostat in three dimensions, the ladder structure comprising two sheets of elongate polymeric material fused together with the inflatable ladder structure between the sheets including an elongate gas-inflatable main channel and gas inflatable lateral extensions in flow communication with the main channel.
 8. The ladder structure of claim 7, further comprising a gas reservoir intermediate and in flow communication with the main channel.
 9. The ladder structure of claim 7, wherein the lateral extensions are opposing and on both sides of the main channel.
 10. The ladder structure of claim 7, wherein the ladder structure is in gas flow communication with the aerostat and the gas inflatable appendage.
 11. The ladder structure of claim 7, further comprising a singular valve for inflating the aerostat, ladder structure and appendage.
 12. A gas-inflatable character aerostat with at least one gas-inflatable appendage comprising a linear and non-linear moving gas-inflatable connecting ladder structure connecting a gas-inflatable appendage to the gas-inflatable aerostat to permit movement of the appendage in relation to the aerostat in three dimensions, the ladder structure comprising two sheets of elongate polymeric material fused together with the ladder structure to be inflated with gas between the sheets including an elongate gas-inflatable main channel and gas-inflatable lateral extensions extending from and in flow communication with the main channel.
 13. The ladder structure of claim 12, further comprising a gas-inflatable reservoir intermediate and in flow communication with the main channel.
 14. The ladder structure of claim 12, wherein the lateral extensions are opposing and on both sides of the main channel.
 15. The ladder structure of claim 12, wherein the ladder structure is in gas flow communication with the aerostat and the gas inflatable appendage.
 16. The ladder structure of claim 12, further comprising a singular valve for inflating the aerostat, ladder structure and appendage. 